HAP: Home Assessment Program
In order for Ohio families to foster or adopt a child, they must undergo a home study assessment. HAP helps Public Children Services Agencies, Private Noncustodial Agencies and Private Child Placing Agencies, in Ohio meet their needs for home studies. We contract with a pool of certified assessors who are assigned to complete these home studies for each agency.
Why HAP?
Support the effort to recruit more adoptive and resource homes in Ohio
Assist Ohio agencies in licensing homes for children living in out-of-home placements
Help with agency workforce needs that exist and continue to grow
Conduct timely assessments while maintaining quality
Assessment requests receive a response within 48 hours
Full home studies completed within 4.5 months
Kinship assessments completed within 21 days
Types of Assessments
Foster Home study, Foster and Adopt Home study: In Ohio, a foster home study is a process where a licensed assessor evaluates the suitability of a prospective foster or adoptive family to provide a safe and stable home for a child. This includes reviewing documents, conducting home visits, and interviewing all household members to understand the family's dynamics and readiness to parent.
Kinship Assessment: In Ohio, a Kinship Assessment is a process to evaluate the suitability of a relative or a close family friend (kin) to care for a child who cannot remain with their parents. This assessment is done by a licensed Assessor, and helps to ensure the caregiver can provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for the child. It involves a home safety evaluation, background checks, and interviews to determine the caregiver's ability to meet the child's needs.
ICPC Homestudy: In Ohio, an ICPC (Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children) home study is a process that is performed by a licensed Assessor and assesses the suitability of a home for a child being placed across state lines for foster care or adoption. It ensures the child's safety and well-being by evaluating the prospective parents or caregivers' ability to provide a stable and nurturing environment. This process is mandated by the ICPC, a uniform law adopted by all states to streamline interstate child placements.
Recertification Home study: In Ohio, a foster care recertification home study is a process that occurs two years after a foster home is initially certified, and is performed by a licensed Assessor. It's essentially a re-application for foster care certification, ensuring caregivers continue to meet the state's standards for providing a safe and suitable environment for foster children. This process reviews all the requirements of the initial certification, including home visits, interviews, and assessments, to ensure the foster home remains appropriate.